SPRINGFIELD – A man who attempted to intervene in a dispute over a found dog Tuesday night - and was punched in the head for his trouble - is fighting for his life at Baystate Medical Center.

Paul Bagge, 45, of Roosevelt Ave., suffered a head injury when he fell and was listed in critical condition at Baystate Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The incident started shortly before 6 p.m. when a female went to 168 East St. to pick up a beagle that had been advertised as found, Sgt. John M. Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said.

The female retrieved the dog and brought it out to her car which had been parked in front of the house, Delaney said. She was about to drive away when the suspect, Guy Wilson, of that address, accused her of being from the MSPCA, reached into her car and attempted to remove her keys from the ignition,

Delaney said that Bagge came over in an attempt to reason with Wilson and tapped him on the shoulder. Wilson then turned and punched Bagge in the head, causing the victim to fall and suffer serious head trauma, Delaney said.

Police found Wilson inside his home and charged him with assault and battery (serious bodily harm).